Fees To Be Waived for OMNY Cards When Customers Transfer Balances
First 400 Customers to Transfer Balances at Customer Service Centers Get Fee-Waived Cards
See Digital Announcement Posters Here
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, the first 400 customers to transfer their balances from MetroCards to OMNY at the 16 current Customer Service Centers throughout the transit system will receive fee-waived OMNY cards. Cards will be loaded with balances remaining on their MetroCards with transfers of balances occurring on the spot at the Customer Service Centers.
The announcement comes as the MTA prepares to transition away from the MetroCard with sales ending on December 31, 2025, and full transition to tap-and-ride in 2026. The OMNY cards will not have trip value pre-loaded.
OMNY cards offered with no fees will be available to the first 400 customers at all 16 Customer Service Centers, listed below:
The Bronx
- 161 St-Yankee Stadium
- Fordham Rd
- Parkchester
Brooklyn
- Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr
- Coney Island-Stillwell Av
- Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs
Manhattan
- 34 St-Penn Station
- 125 St
- 168 St
- Fulton St
- Grand Central-42 St
- Times Sq-42 St
Queens
- Flushing-Main St
- Jackson Hts-Roosevelt Av
- Sutphin Blvd-Archer Av-JFK Airport
Staten Island
- St. George (open Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
14 new Customer Service Centers are set to open later this year at locations across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The first 400 customers to visit those new Customer Service Centers and transfer their MetroCard balances to OMNY will also receive the promotional fee-waived OMNY cards.
“As we prepare to say goodbye to the MetroCard, we want to make sure customers are aware of all the resources available at our growing number of Customer Service Centers across the subway system,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “Come to one of our existing centers to exchange your MetroCard for a fee-free OMNY card and experience the ease of tap and ride!”
“We’re making it as easy as possible for riders to switch to tap-and-ride by offering fee-free OMNY cards to the first 400 customers who exchange their MetroCards at customer service centers throughout the system,” said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “Open 24/7 throughout the transit system, Customer Service Centers are staffed by agents who are ready to answer tap-and-ride questions, enroll in Reduced-Fare programs and help riders navigate the system.”
Agents at Customer Service Centers are on hand 24/7 to assist riders with OMNY machines, help customers sign up for the Fair Fares and Reduced-Fare programs, and provide service information among other features. Customer Service Centers feature services historically provided by the MTA exclusively at 3 Stone Street in Lower Manhattan in the neighborhoods where riders live.
The Customer Service Centers include repurposed booths, retail outlets and feature enhanced accessibility, OMNY technology, and a dedicated, more welcoming visual presentation for customers through new lighting, branded wrapping, and canopies.
Earlier this year, the MTA announced that the final day for MetroCard sales and distribution will be December 31, 2025, as the MTA’s popular contactless tap-and-ride payment system fully replaces the three-decade old swipe system. The tap-and-ride payment system allows riders to pay fares directly with digital wallets, contactless credit and debit cards, and OMNY cards.
MetroCards will still be accepted into 2026 and the official final acceptance date will be announced at a later time. While customers are encouraged to spend down the value on their MetroCards, remaining balances will be eligible for transfer or reimbursement two years from the expiration date on the MetroCard.